Sun Ra Arkestra, Casa da Música, Porto, 19.10.2023.

words: Marcos Leal (editing and free translation: Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota

The Sun Ra Arkestra presented itself in Porto, once more, in a rainy Thursday night withinin Outone em Jazz concert cycle.

Before an expecting, sharped ear, audience the Sun Ra Arkestra entered the state in shinny colorful sequins that adorned the retro-futuristic garments of the 13 músicos who, slowly, took their place behind their instruments, before starting what would become a journey into time and intergalactic metaphysical space.

The ochestra, created in the 1950s by Sun Ra, one of the greatest names of avant-garde jazz, and it is now directed by another 99 years old alien, Marshall Allen, brought to Porto the philosophy and cosmic sound of its creator, as travellers from another world with a mission to spread piece, harmony, the cosmos.

At times, the cosmos can, initially, sound chaotic, but nothing is random. That is how the performance started. A construction of a dialogue between instruments with rhythms and somehow dissonant and atonal melodies towards a jazzy exploration, challenging those less prepared for it. Tara Middleton vocal contributions were one more instrument in the orchestra sound, releasing sentences of peace and galactic utopia.

It is in afrofutismo, of which the Sun Ra Arkestra is seen as a pioneer, that the influence in more contemporary jazz is understood, with the incorporation of elements that aren’t natural to jazz like electronic keyboards and synthsisers. It is interesting to highlight that those were some of the musicals elements that caught me ear the most with delightful moments. The Sun Ra Arkestra also gifted those in attendance with more classic jazz big bands like themes making the bodies of the audience to move swing style like.

In short, a performance that fulfilled both more traditional jazz lovers as well as avant-garde jazz ones, with high quality musicians, that alternate standing out with their solos with a sunny disposition of everyone on stage and memorable moments. Like when one of the older members of the Arkestra demonstrate dance moves enviable to thoso much younger. Other highlights: Halloween in Harlem, to coincide with the approaching date aproveitando a proximidade da date and a short walk among the audience.

The cosmic message of a band that isn’t, but could be from another world was, therefore, hand down in Porto.